Danielle Nierenberg’s Post

It is just about the halfway mark of Food Solutions New England's 21-Day Racial Equity Habit Building Challenge, an annual program that fosters commitment to a deepened understanding of, and willingness to confront, racism. The 2024 challenge from April 1 to 21 features themed weeks with daily prompts for thoughtful consideration. "Mobilizing the Current 'We'" was the past week's segment, with one day's prompt inspiring contemplation of Advance Nutrition Equity and the Right to Nutritious Food. Transforming food systems into ones that ensure everyone has access to adequate and healthy sustenance requires identification and dismantling of the historic and systemic roots of racism, discrimination, bias and marginalization in our existing food system. WWF&C's vision calls for permanently protecting 80% percent of New England, including 7% as farmland, to secure a healthy environment, accessible local food, and an abundance of nature for critical resources like safe water, wood, and clean air, and for those benefits to accrue equitably to all New Englanders. It is not too late to join the challenge, and Food Solution New England is also holding Friday Conversation Space online from noon to 1:30 Eastern today and April 19 (register here: https://buff.ly/3vPnW1Y) for opportunities to discuss and network as a community about this important topic. Learn more about the challenge here: https://buff.ly/33JqxZ5 #conservation #newengland #northeast #landconservation #wwfc #foodequity #foodsecurity #racialequitychallenge #sustainablefood #localfood

Expanding good food purchasing in New York: Upcoming webinar hosted by the NY Health Foundation. Directing public food procurement dollars to sustainable, regional producers that engage in fair labor practices and humane treatment of livestock is one of the most important tools cities and states can use to support a just, healthy, and resilient food system. In New York State, a new bill has passed the legislature that would enable municipalities to pay a small price premium for better food for schools, senior centers, correctional facilities, and other congregate meal programs. Join this webinar to learn about current policies and opportunities for small farms and suppliers to compete for institutional contracts. https://lnkd.in/eA4cq7qh

These conversations are going to be so interesting- I've registered to watch online! Link is below!

Last week, I participated in the CSO Food System Forum, a transformative 3-day workshop held at the Imperial Botanical Hotel in Entebbe, organized by Oxfam in Uganda in partnership with the Food Rights Alliance (FRA). This impactful gathering brought together civil society representatives and government actors, all united by a common purpose: transforming food systems to ensure access to safe, nutritious food, champion supportive policies, and expand urban and semi-urban agriculture. The forum provided a platform for insightful deliberations and meaningful dialogue among diverse stakeholders. Here are my key takeaways: 👉🏽Tackling food insecurity requires strong and coordinated efforts from all stakeholders, government, CSOs, the private sector, and communities. Collective action has the power to drive lasting change. 👉🏽We must focus on pushing for inclusive, well-resourced, and enforceable food policies that build resilient, equitable food systems. Potential of Urban and Semi-Urban Agriculture: Expanding food production within urban areas presents significant opportunities to improve food security, create employment, and enhance nutrition. 👉🏽Effective, data-driven monitoring and evaluation of food system transformation efforts ensure accountability, guide policy, and facilitate informed decision-making. Grateful to have collaborated with such passionate and knowledgeable colleagues. Together, we can reshape food systems and make a meaningful difference!

How does Food Justice in Syracuse look to you? The future of food justice in Syracuse, as envisioned by We Build We Grow, is one of empowerment, sustainability, and community-driven solutions. The organization sees a future where: Equitable Access to Nutritious Food: We strive to ensure that every neighborhood in Syracuse, especially underserved communities, has access to fresh, healthy food. This will be achieved through sustainable urban agriculture initiatives like community gardens and cooperative markets, reducing the reliance on processed and unhealthy foods. Community Ownership: We envision a community-owned cooperative market where people not only purchase affordable fresh produce but also have a stake in the system. This model fosters self-reliance, economic development, and communal responsibility. Policy Advocacy: Our plan is to play an active role in influencing local government policies to support urban farming and food equity. By continually pushing for laws and projects that favor food justice, We Build We Grow envisions a Syracuse where systemic barriers to food access are removed. Intergenerational Collaboration: A key aspect of the future of food justice involves engaging youth and elderly community members in gardening and mentorship programs. This ensures knowledge transfer and strengthens community bonds across generations. A Healthier City: Ultimately, We Build We Grow foresees a healthier Syracuse, where urban agriculture not only provides food but also improves physical and mental health, reduces food insecurity, and helps prevent diet-related diseases. This approach cultivates a more resilient and connected city. This vision for the future is rooted in collaboration, sustainability, and empowerment, as We Build We Grow works toward creating lasting change in food justice for Syracuse.

As we continue supporting organizations that increase access to food for those who need it most within food banks, pantries and medically tailored meal services, we are also working with local nonprofits specializing in urban farming and educational resources to provide another path to food insecurity solutions. This emerging effort has shown us that it’s more than just increasing access to fruits and vegetables; it grows healthy habits and sustainable communities. Most recently, we supported Keep Growing Detroit and Harlem Grow as part of this new focus. Learn more about their efforts and our continued commitment to bolster organizations working to advance food insecurity solutions. https://bit.ly/3ziES2D

Too many families struggle to bring home the healthy food. Every year, many #Nebraska residents use #SNAP to help put food on the table. Double Up Food Bucks Nebraska coordinated by Nebraska Extension and the Nebraska Community Foundation matches EBT Card, or SNAP benefit, purchases on fruits and vegetables, up to $20 per day. This means more #healthyfood for families, more business for #localfarmers, and a boost for #localeconomies. Everyone wins! #NebExt https://lnkd.in/g_BzqX7p Nebraska Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources

📅| #FarmtoCafeteriaCanada On Monday, March 4, 2024, at 9:30 am, join Farm to Cafeteria Canada for "A farmer’s roundtable on school food in Ontario" Why participate? The majority of school food programs in #ontario and across #Canada do not procure and distribute locally produced food. This is a missed market opportunity that could be a win for farmers, schools and students. Students from the Arrell Food Institute's (Arrell Food Institute at the University of Guelph) Graduate Research program’s Community Partnerships Initiative are working with Farm to Cafeteria Canada to examine the barriers and opportunities that exist to procure and distribute a variety of local food in schools. The findings will be used to inform policy recommendations in relation to local food procurement and distribution here in Ontario and across Canada, as governments work to develop regional and national school nutritious meal policies and programs. To learn more, click the link ⬇ https://lnkd.in/ezsiijVh

🎉👨🌾 Let's celebrate Father's Day, produce-style! 👨👧👦🍎 Did you know that Father's Day has a fascinating history? It all started back in 1910 when Sonora Smart Dodd wanted to honor her father, a Civil War veteran who raised six children on his own. She championed the idea of a day to celebrate dads, and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson supported the concept. It wasn't until 1972, though, that President Richard Nixon officially declared Father's Day a national holiday. 📅🎉 Now, how does this tie into the produce industry, you ask? Well, just like dads, the produce industry is all about nurturing and growth! 🌱🌟 From planting seeds to tending crops, farmers pour their hearts and souls into providing us with the freshest fruits and veggies. And just like fathers, they work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure their families—and ours—have the best quality produce on the table. 🍏💪 So this Father's Day, let's take a moment to appreciate all the dads out there, both in our personal lives and in the produce industry. They're the unsung heroes who make our meals nutritious, delicious, and filled with love. 🥦❤️ Happy Father's Day to all the incredible dads, farmers, and produce industry dads out there! Let's celebrate in style! 🚀🎉 🍎👨🌾 #FathersDay #ProduceHeroes #DadAppreciation #FreshProduce #ProduceIndustry #FreshProduce #OrganicProduce #WholesaleDistribution #RetailIndustry #GroceryStores #GroceryRetail #FoodBusiness #EatFresh #EatYourVeggies #EatHealthy #FruitsAndVegetables #FreshFruits #FreshVegetables #LoveWhatYouDo #ProduceLife #ThankAFarmer #RossTheProduceBoss #Distribution #Food #Fruits #Veggies #FoodSafety #PolicyInfluence #Advocacy #AgriculturePolicy #FarmToTable #HealthyEating #SustainableFarming #ProducePower #Nutrition #ProducePower

The Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens - Take 3 It is a time of #crisis for the #food sector, and for #agricultureandfarming in particular. Meanwhile, the way that crisis is dealt with at national level leaves a persistent feeling of inadequacy. While work continues to shape and transform national food policies, there is also an urgent need to develop #local responses to local challenges, concerns, and aspirations. In particular, the work Laura Stratford and I have conducted in #lincolnshire has shown the need for local, safe spaces, where stakeholders can have open, constructive discussions on current and future challenges, and how to address them together, working across boundaries rather than in silos, bringing #rural experience and expertise to the discussion. Such a space is what Laura Stratford and I have aimed to provide through the "Future of Food in the Lincolnshire Fens" workshop series (https://lnkd.in/eBR3-YdP). Two successful in person events took place in November 2023 and January 2024, thanks to generous support from the Greater Lincolnshire Food Partnership. They brought together concerned and committed growers, transporters, retailers, drainage authorities, officers of the county and district councils, the Environment Agency, Natural England, the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust, the Lincolnshire Rural Support Network, the GLLEP, Defra, the Soil Association, and landowners. Thanks to a recent UKSFP grant from South Holland District Council, the workshops series will continue this year and until March 2025. This provides more space and time for the participants to go deeper in their exploration of the Fens' challenges, and to begin formulating their own robust responses. Registrations for the third workshop - on 18 March 2024 in Holbeach - are now open at this address: https://lnkd.in/e-ixP2Bd Laura Stratford